EP4261653A1 - Electronic device comprising breakage prevention structure - Google Patents
Electronic device comprising breakage prevention structure Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP4261653A1 EP4261653A1 EP21923455.6A EP21923455A EP4261653A1 EP 4261653 A1 EP4261653 A1 EP 4261653A1 EP 21923455 A EP21923455 A EP 21923455A EP 4261653 A1 EP4261653 A1 EP 4261653A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- housing
- rotator
- hinge
- electronic device
- closed end
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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Images
Classifications
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H05K—PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS
- H05K5/00—Casings, cabinets or drawers for electric apparatus
- H05K5/02—Details
- H05K5/0217—Mechanical details of casings
- H05K5/0226—Hinges
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F1/00—Details not covered by groups G06F3/00 - G06F13/00 and G06F21/00
- G06F1/16—Constructional details or arrangements
- G06F1/1613—Constructional details or arrangements for portable computers
- G06F1/1633—Constructional details or arrangements of portable computers not specific to the type of enclosures covered by groups G06F1/1615 - G06F1/1626
- G06F1/1656—Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16C—SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
- F16C11/00—Pivots; Pivotal connections
- F16C11/04—Pivotal connections
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F1/00—Details not covered by groups G06F3/00 - G06F13/00 and G06F21/00
- G06F1/16—Constructional details or arrangements
- G06F1/1613—Constructional details or arrangements for portable computers
- G06F1/1628—Carrying enclosures containing additional elements, e.g. case for a laptop and a printer
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- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F1/00—Details not covered by groups G06F3/00 - G06F13/00 and G06F21/00
- G06F1/16—Constructional details or arrangements
- G06F1/1613—Constructional details or arrangements for portable computers
- G06F1/1633—Constructional details or arrangements of portable computers not specific to the type of enclosures covered by groups G06F1/1615 - G06F1/1626
- G06F1/1637—Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing
- G06F1/1652—Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing the display being flexible, e.g. mimicking a sheet of paper, or rollable
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- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F1/00—Details not covered by groups G06F3/00 - G06F13/00 and G06F21/00
- G06F1/16—Constructional details or arrangements
- G06F1/1613—Constructional details or arrangements for portable computers
- G06F1/1633—Constructional details or arrangements of portable computers not specific to the type of enclosures covered by groups G06F1/1615 - G06F1/1626
- G06F1/1675—Miscellaneous details related to the relative movement between the different enclosures or enclosure parts
- G06F1/1681—Details related solely to hinges
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
- G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
- G09F9/00—Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the information is built-up on a support by selection or combination of individual elements
- G09F9/30—Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the information is built-up on a support by selection or combination of individual elements in which the desired character or characters are formed by combining individual elements
- G09F9/301—Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the information is built-up on a support by selection or combination of individual elements in which the desired character or characters are formed by combining individual elements flexible foldable or roll-able electronic displays, e.g. thin LCD, OLED
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
- H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
- H04M1/02—Constructional features of telephone sets
- H04M1/0202—Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets
- H04M1/0206—Portable telephones comprising a plurality of mechanically joined movable body parts, e.g. hinged housings
- H04M1/0208—Portable telephones comprising a plurality of mechanically joined movable body parts, e.g. hinged housings characterized by the relative motions of the body parts
- H04M1/0214—Foldable telephones, i.e. with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
- H04M1/0216—Foldable in one direction, i.e. using a one degree of freedom hinge
- H04M1/022—The hinge comprising two parallel pivoting axes
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
- H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
- H04M1/02—Constructional features of telephone sets
- H04M1/0202—Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets
- H04M1/026—Details of the structure or mounting of specific components
- H04M1/0266—Details of the structure or mounting of specific components for a display module assembly
- H04M1/0268—Details of the structure or mounting of specific components for a display module assembly including a flexible display panel
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
- H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
- H04M1/02—Constructional features of telephone sets
- H04M1/18—Telephone sets specially adapted for use in ships, mines, or other places exposed to adverse environment
- H04M1/185—Improving the rigidity of the casing or resistance to shocks
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F2203/00—Indexing scheme relating to G06F3/00 - G06F3/048
- G06F2203/041—Indexing scheme relating to G06F3/041 - G06F3/045
- G06F2203/04102—Flexible digitiser, i.e. constructional details for allowing the whole digitising part of a device to be flexed or rolled like a sheet of paper
Definitions
- Various embodiments of the disclosure relate to an electronic device including a breakage prevention structure.
- Electronic devices may include a foldable electronic device, which includes a first housing, a second housing foldably connected to the first housing through a hinge device, and a flexible display disposed to be supported by the first housing and the second housing.
- the first housing and the second housing may be structurally coupled with a hinge module included in the hinge device, and may be operated while being supported by the hinge module in a folded state and/or an unfolded state.
- the hinge module is at least partially fixed to the hinge housing including an accommodation portion, and is connected to portions of the first housing and the second housing through at least one rotator included in the hinge module, so that it can induce folding and unfolding operations.
- the rotator may be disposed to have a flow gap spaced apart by a pre-specified distance in a direction of the folding axis.
- the other housing may be displaced, through inertia and/or shearing stress, in the opposite direction at least by the flow gap described above, which may cause breakage and/or malfunction of the flexible display supported by the two housings.
- Various embodiments may provide an electronic device including a breakage prevention structure.
- an electronic device having a robust structure by including a breakage prevention structure with only a relatively simple structural change.
- an electronic device that includes a breakage prevention structure constituted to support smooth folding and/or unfolding operations.
- an electronic device may include: a first housing; a second housing; a hinge device that connects the first housing and the second housing in a movable manner relative to each other with respect to a folding axis, and includes a hinge housing having an accommodation portion, and a hinge module disposed in the accommodation portion and including at least one rotator connecting the first housing and the second housing; and a flexible display disposed to be supported by at least some of the first housing, the second housing, and the hinge device, wherein the at least one rotator may be disposed to allow at least some thereof to be at least partially in contact with the hinge housing in a folded state, and to be spaced apart from the hinge housing by a specified distance in an unfolded state.
- an electronic device may include: a first housing that includes a first surface, a second surface facing in a direction opposite to the first surface, and a first lateral member surrounding a first space between the first surface and the second surface; a second housing that is foldably connected to the first housing through a hinge device, and includes a third surface facing in the same direction as the first surface in an unfolded state, a fourth surface facing in a direction opposite to the third surface, and a second lateral member surrounding a second space between the third surface and the fourth surface; and a flexible display disposed to be bendable from at least a portion of the first surface across the hinge device to at least a portion of the second surface, wherein the hinge device may include a hinge housing having an accommodation portion, and at least one hinge module disposed in the accommodation portion and including at least one rotator connected to the first housing and the second housing, wherein the at least one rotator may be disposed to allow at least some thereof to be at least partially in contact with the hinge housing in a folded state, and
- the electronic device includes a breakage prevention structure for preventing distortion due to shearing stress generated in the direction of the folding axis between the two housings in an event of a fall to thereby prevent malfunction and breakage of the display and improve the reliability of the electronic device.
- FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an unfolded state of an electronic device 200 according to various embodiments of the disclosure.
- FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a folded state of the electronic device 200 of FIG. 1 according to various embodiments of the disclosure.
- the electronic device 200 may include a pair of housings 210 and 220 (e.g., foldable housing) rotatably coupled based on a folding axis A1 through a hinge device (e.g., a hinge device 300 of FIG. 3 ) to be foldable with respect to each other, a first display 230 (e.g., flexible display, foldable display, or main display) disposed through the pair of housings 210 and 220, and/or a second display 400 (e.g., sub-display) disposed through the second housing 220.
- a hinge device e.g., a hinge device 300 of FIG.
- a surface in which the first display 230 is disposed may be defined as a front surface of the electronic device 200, and an opposite surface of the front surface may be defined as a rear surface of the electronic device 200. Further, a surface enclosing a space between the front surface and the rear surface may be defined as a side surface of the electronic device 200.
- the pair of housings 210 and 220 may include a first housing 210 and second housing 220 disposed to be foldable with respect to each other through the hinge device (e.g., the hinge device 300 of FIG. 3 ).
- the pair of housings 210 and 220 are not limited to the shape and coupling illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 , and may be implemented by a combination and/or coupling of other shapes or parts.
- the first housing 210 and the second housing 220 may be disposed at both sides based on the folding axis A1, and have an overall symmetrical shape with respect to the folding axis A1.
- the first housing 210 and the second housing 220 may be folded asymmetrically based on the folding axis A1. According to certain embodiments, the first housing 210 and the second housing 220 may have different angles or distances from each other according to whether the electronic device 200 is in an unfolded state, a folded state, or an intermediate state.
- the first housing 210 when the electronic device 200 is in an unfolded state, may include a first surface 211 connected to the hinge device (e.g., the hinge device 300 of FIG. 3 ) and disposed to face the front of the electronic device 200, a second surface 212 facing in a direction opposite to that of the first surface 211, and/or a first side member 213 enclosing at least a portion of a first space between the first surface 211 and the second surface 212.
- the second housing 220 when the electronic device 200 is in an unfolded state, may include a third surface 221 connected to the hinge device (e.g., the hinge device 300 of FIG.
- the first surface 211 may face in substantially the same direction as that of the third surface 221 when the electronic device is in an unfolded state and at least partially face the third surface 221 when the electronic device is in a folded state.
- the electronic device 200 may include a recess 201 formed to receive the first display 230 through structural coupling of the first housing 210 and the second housing 220.
- the recess 201 may have substantially the same size as that of the first display 230.
- the hinge housing 310 (e.g., hinge cover) may be disposed between the first housing 210 and the second housing 220 and be disposed to cover a hinge device (e.g.: the hinge device 300 of FIG. 3 ) disposed in the hinge housing 310.
- the hinge housing 310 may be covered by a part of the first housing 210 and the second housing 220 or may be exposed to the outside according to an unfolded state, a folded state, or an intermediate state of the electronic device 200.
- at least a portion of the hinge housing 310 may be covered by the first housing 210 and the second housing 220 to not be substantially exposed.
- the hinge housing 310 when the electronic device 200 is in a folded state, at least a portion of the hinge housing 310 may be exposed to the outside between the first housing 210 and the second housing 220. According to certain embodiments, when the first housing 210 and the second housing 220 are in an intermediate state folded with a certain angle, the hinge housing 310 may be at least partially exposed to the outside of the electronic device 200 between the first housing 210 and the second housing 220. For example, an area in which the hinge housing 310 is exposed to the outside may be smaller than that in a fully folded state. According to certain embodiments, the hinge housing 310 may include a curved surface.
- the first housing 210 and the second housing 220 form an angle of approximately 180 degrees, and a first area 230a, a folding area 230c, and a second area 230b of the first display 230 may form the same flat surface and be disposed to face in substantially the same direction.
- the first housing 210 may rotate at an angle of approximately 360 degrees with respect to the second housing 220 so that the second surface 212 and the fourth surface 222 may be reversely folded to face each other (out-folding method).
- the first surface 211 of the first housing 210 and the third surface 221 of the second housing 220 may be disposed to face each other.
- the first area 230a and the second area 230b of the first display 230 may form a narrow angle (e.g., a range of 0 degree to approximately 10 degree) each other through the folding area 230c and be disposed to face each other.
- at least a portion of the folding area 230c may be transformed into a curved shape having a predetermined curvature.
- the first housing 210 and the second housing 220 when the electronic device 200 is in an intermediate state, the first housing 210 and the second housing 220 may be disposed at a certain angle to each other.
- the first area 230a and the second area 230b of the first display 230 may form an angle larger than the folded state and smaller than the unfolded state, and a curvature of the folding area 230c may be smaller than that of the folded state and be larger than that of the unfolded state.
- the first housing 210 and the second housing 220 may form an angle that may stop at a specified folding angle between the folded state and the unfolded state through the hinge device (e.g., the hinge device 300 of FIG. 3 ) (free stop function).
- the first housing 210 and the second housing 220 may be operated while being pressurized in an unfolding direction or a folding direction based on a specified inflection angle through the hinge device (e.g., the hinge device 300 of FIG. 3 ).
- the electronic device 200 may include at least one of at least one display 230 and 400, an input device 215, sound output devices 227 and 228, sensor modules 217a, 217b, and 226, camera modules 216a, 216b, and 225, a key input device 219, an indicator, or a connector port 229 disposed in the first housing 210 and/or the second housing 220.
- the electronic device 200 may omit at least one of the components or may additionally include at least one other component.
- the at least one display 230 and 400 may include a first display 230 (e.g., flexible display) disposed to receive support from the third surface 221 of the second housing 220 through the hinge device (e.g., the hinge device 300 of FIG. 3 ) from the first surface 211 of the first housing 210, and a second display 400 disposed to be visible at least partially from the outside through the fourth surface 222 in an inner space of the second housing 220.
- the second display 400 may be disposed to be visible from the outside through the second surface 212 in an inner space of the first housing 210.
- the first display 230 may be mainly used in an unfolded state of the electronic device 200
- the second display 400 may be mainly used in a folded state of the electronic device 200.
- the electronic device 200 may control the first display 230 and/or the second display 400 to be usable based on a folding angle of the first housing 210 and the second housing 220.
- the first display 230 may be disposed in a receiving space formed by a pair of housings 210 and 220.
- the first display 230 may be disposed in the recess 201 formed by the pair of housings 210 and 220, and when the electronic device 200 is in an unfolded state, the first display 230 may be disposed to occupy substantially most of the front surface of the electronic device 200.
- the first display 230 may include a flexible display whose at least a partial area may be transformed into a flat surface or a curved surface.
- the first display 230 may include a first area 230a facing the first housing 210, a second area 230b facing the second housing 220, and a folding area 230c connecting the first area 230a and the second area 230b and facing the hinge device (e.g., the hinge device 300 of FIG. 3 ).
- area division of the first display 230 is an exemplary physical division by a pair of housings 210 and 220 and the hinge device (e.g., the hinge device 300 of FIG. 3 ), and the first display 230 may be displayed as a substantially seamless single full screen through the pair of housings 210 and 220 and the hinge device (e.g., the hinge device 300 of FIG. 3 ).
- the first area 230a and the second area 230b may have an overall symmetrical shape or a partially asymmetrical shape based on the folding area 230c.
- the electronic device 200 may include a first rear cover 240 disposed at the second surface 212 of the first housing 210 and a second rear cover 250 disposed at the fourth surface 222 of the second housing 220.
- at least a portion of the first rear cover 240 may be integrally formed with the first side member 213.
- at least a portion of the second rear cover 250 may be integrally formed with the second side member 223.
- at least one cover of the first rear cover 240 and the second rear cover 250 may be formed with a substantially transparent plate (e.g., a polymer plate or a glass plate including various coating layers) or an opaque plate.
- the first rear cover 240 may be formed by an opaque plate such as, for example, coated or tinted glass, ceramic, polymer, metal (e.g., aluminum, stainless steel (STS), or magnesium), or a combination of at least two of the above materials.
- the second rear cover 250 may be formed through a substantially transparent plate such as glass or polymer, for example. Accordingly, the second display 400 may be disposed to be visible from the outside through the second rear cover 250 in an inner space of the second housing 220.
- the input device 215 may include a microphone. In some embodiments, the input device 215 may include a plurality of microphones disposed to detect a direction of a sound. According to certain embodiments, the sound output devices 227 and 228 may include speakers. According to certain embodiments, the sound output devices 227 and 228 may include a call receiver 227 disposed through the fourth surface 222 of the second housing 220 and an external speaker 228 disposed through at least a portion of the second side member 223 of the second housing 220.
- the input device 215, the sound output devices 227 and 228, and the connector 229 may be disposed in spaces of the first housing 210 and/or the second housing 220 and be exposed to an external environment through at least one hole formed in the first housing 210 and/or the second housing 220.
- holes formed in the first housing 210 and/or the second housing 220 may be commonly used for the input device 215 and the sound output devices 227 and 228.
- the sound output devices 227 and 228 may include a speaker (e.g., piezo speaker) operating while excluding a hole formed in the first housing 210 and/or the second housing 220.
- the camera modules 216a, 216b, and 225 may include a first camera module 216a disposed at the first surface 211 of the first housing 210, a second camera module 216b disposed at the second surface 212 of the first housing 210, and/or a third camera module 225 disposed at the fourth surface 222 of the second housing 220.
- the electronic device 200 may include a flash 218 disposed near the second camera module 216b.
- the flash 218 may include, for example, a light emitting diode or a xenon lamp.
- the camera modules 216a, 216b, and 225 may include one or a plurality of lenses, an image sensor, and/or an image signal processor.
- at least one camera module of the camera modules 216a, 216b, and 225 may include two or more lenses (e.g., wide-angle and telephoto lenses) and image sensors and be disposed together at any one surface of the first housing 210 and/or the second housing 220.
- the sensor modules 217a, 217b, and 226 may generate an electrical signal or a data value corresponding to an internal operating state of the electronic device 200 or an external environmental state.
- the sensor modules 217a, 217b, and 226 may include a first sensor module 217a disposed at the first surface 211 of the first housing 210, a second sensor module 217b disposed at the second surface 212 of the first housing 210, and/or a third sensor module 226 disposed at the fourth surface 222 of the second housing 220.
- the sensor modules 217a, 217b, and 226 may include at least one of a gesture sensor, a grip sensor, a color sensor, an infrared (IR) sensor, an illuminance sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, an iris recognition sensor, or a distance detection sensor (e.g., time of flight (TOF) sensor or light detection and ranging (LiDAR)).
- a gesture sensor e.g., a grip sensor, a color sensor, an infrared (IR) sensor, an illuminance sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, an iris recognition sensor, or a distance detection sensor (e.g., time of flight (TOF) sensor or light detection and ranging (LiDAR)).
- TOF time of flight
- LiDAR light detection and ranging
- the electronic device 200 may further include a sensor module, for example, at least one of an atmospheric pressure sensor, a magnetic sensor, a biometric sensor, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, or a fingerprint recognition sensor.
- the fingerprint recognition sensor may be disposed through at least one of the first side member 213 of the first housing 210 and/or the second side member 223 of the second housing 220.
- the key input device 219 may be disposed to be exposed to the outside through the first side member 213 of the first housing 210. In some embodiments, the key input device 219 may be disposed to be exposed to the outside through the second side member 223 of the second housing 220. In some embodiments, the electronic device 200 may not include some or all of the key input devices 219, and the non-included key input devices 219 may be implemented into other forms such as soft keys on at least one display 230 and 400. As another embodiment, the key input device 219 may be implemented using a pressure sensor included in at least one display 230 and 400.
- the connector port 229 may include a connector (e.g., USB connector or interface connector port module (IF module)) for transmitting and receiving power and/or data to and from an external electronic device.
- the connector port 229 may further include a separate connector port (e.g., ear jack hole) for performing together a function for transmitting and receiving an audio signal to and from an external electronic device or for performing a function of transmitting and receiving an audio signal.
- At least one camera module 216a and 225 of the camera modules 216a, 216b, and 225, at least one sensor module 217a and 226 of the sensor modules 217a, 217b, and 226, and/or the indicator may be disposed to be exposed through at least one display 230 and 400.
- the at least one camera module 216a and 225, the at least one sensor module 217a and 226, and/or the indicator may be disposed under a display area of the displays 230 and 400 in an interior space of the at least one housing 210 and 220 and be disposed to contact an external environment through an opening or transparent area perforated to a cover member (e.g., a window layer of the first display 230 and/or the second rear cover 250).
- a cover member e.g., a window layer of the first display 230 and/or the second rear cover 250.
- an area in which the displays 230 and 400 and the at least one camera module 216a and 225 face each other is a part of an area displaying contents and may be formed as a transmission area having predetermined transmittance.
- the transmission area may be formed to have transmittance in a range from approximately 5% to approximately 20%.
- a transmission area may include an area overlapped with an effective area (e.g., view angle area) of the at least one camera module 216a and 225 through which light for generating an image by an image sensor passes.
- the transmission area of the displays 230 and 400 may include an area having a lower pixel density than that of a peripheral area thereof.
- the transmission area may replace the opening.
- the at least one camera module 216a and 225 may include an under display camera (UDC).
- UDC under display camera
- some camera modules or sensor modules 217a and 226 may be disposed to perform functions thereof without being visually exposed through the display.
- an area facing the camera modules 216a and 225 and/or the sensor modules 217a and 226 disposed under the displays 230 and 400 (e.g., display panel) has an under display camera (UDC) structure; thus, a perforated opening may be unnecessary.
- UDC under display camera
- FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an electronic device 200 according to various embodiments of the disclosure.
- the electronic device 200 may include a first display 230, a second display 400, a hinge device 300, a support member assembly 260, at least one printed circuit board 270, a first housing 210, a second housing 220, a first rear cover 240, and/or a second rear cover 250.
- the first display 230 may include a display panel 231 (e.g., flexible display panel) and one or more plates 232 or layers in which the display panel 231 is seated.
- the display panel 231 may include a first panel area 231a corresponding to the first area (e.g., the first area 230a of FIG. 1 ) of the display 230, a second panel area 231b extended from the first panel area and corresponding to the second area (e.g., the second area 230b of FIG. 1 ) of the display 230, and a third area 231c connecting the first panel area 231a and the second panel area 231b and corresponding to a folding area (e.g., the folding area 230c of FIG.
- a folding area e.g., the folding area 230c of FIG.
- the one or more plates 232 may include a conductive plate (e.g., Cu sheet or SUS sheet) disposed between the display panel 231 and the support member assembly 260.
- the one or more plates 232 may be formed to have substantially the same area as that of the first display 230, and an area facing a folding area (e.g., the folding area 230c of FIG. 1 ) of the first display 230 may be formed to be bendable.
- the one or more plates 232 may include at least one auxiliary material layer (e.g., graphite member) disposed at a rear surface of the display panel 231.
- the one or more plates 232 may be formed in a shape corresponding to the display panel 231.
- the second display 400 may be disposed in a space between the second housing 220 and the second rear cover 250. According to certain embodiments, the second display 400 may be disposed to be visible from the outside through substantially the entire area of the second rear cover 250 in a space between the second housing 220 and the second rear cover 250.
- the support member assembly 260 may include a first support member 261 (e.g., first support plate) and a second support member 262 (e.g., second support plate).
- the first support member 261 may be foldably coupled to the second support member 262 through the hinge device 300.
- the electronic device 200 may include at least one wiring member 263 (e.g., flexible printed circuit board (FPCB)) disposed from at least a portion of the first support member 261 across the hinge device 300 to a portion of the second support member 262.
- the support member assembly 260 may be disposed between one or more plates 232 and at least one printed circuit board 270.
- the first support member 261 may be disposed between the first area (e.g., the first area 230a of FIG. 1 ) of the first display 230 and a first printed circuit board 271.
- the second support member 262 may be disposed between the second area (e.g., the second area 230b of FIG. 1 ) of the first display 230 and a second printed circuit board 272.
- the at least one wiring member 263 and/or at least a portion of the hinge device 300 may be disposed to be supported through at least a portion of the support member assembly 260.
- the at least one wiring member 263 may be disposed in a direction (e.g., x-axis direction) crossing the first support member 261 and the second support member 262. According to certain embodiments, the at least one wiring member 263 may be disposed in a direction (e.g., the x-axis direction) substantially perpendicular to the folding axis (e.g., the y-axis or the folding axis A1 of FIG. 1 ) of the folding area 230c.
- the at least one printed circuit board 270 may include a first printed circuit board 271 disposed to face the first support member 261 or a second printed circuit board 272 disposed to face the second support member 262.
- the first printed circuit board 271 and the second printed circuit board 272 may be disposed in an inner space formed by the support member assembly 260, the first housing 210, the second housing 220, and the first rear cover 240, and/or the second rear cover 250.
- the first printed circuit board 271 and the second printed circuit board 272 may include a plurality of electronic components disposed to implement various functions of the electronic device 200.
- the first support member 261 is a component of the first housing 210 and may be extended at least partially from the first side member 213 to a first space (e.g., first interior space) in which the first housing 210 is formed.
- the second support member 262 is a component of the second housing 220 and may be extended at least partially from the second side member 223 to a second space (e.g., second interior space) in which the second housing 220 is formed.
- the electronic device 200 may include a first printed circuit board 271 disposed in a first space of the first housing 210, a first battery 291 disposed at a position facing a first swelling hole 2611 of the first support member 261, at least one camera module 282 (e.g., the first camera module 216a and/or the second camera module 216b of FIG. 1 ), or at least one sensor module 281 (e.g., the first sensor module 217a and/or the second sensor module 217b of FIG. 1 ).
- a first printed circuit board 271 disposed in a first space of the first housing 210
- a first battery 291 disposed at a position facing a first swelling hole 2611 of the first support member 261
- at least one camera module 282 e.g., the first camera module 216a and/or the second camera module 216b of FIG. 1
- at least one sensor module 281 e.g., the first sensor module 217a and/or the second sensor module 217b of FIG. 1
- the electronic device 200 may include a second printed circuit board 272 disposed in the second space of the second housing 220 or a second battery 292 disposed in a position facing a second swelling hole 2621 of the second support member 262.
- the first housing 210 may be integrally formed with the first support member 261.
- the second housing 220 may be integrally formed with the second support member 262.
- the first housing 210 may include a first rotation support surface 214
- the second housing 220 may include a second rotation support surface 224 corresponding to the first rotation support surface 214
- the first rotation support surface 214 and the second rotation support surface 224 may include curved surfaces corresponding to (naturally connected to) a curved outer surface of the hinge housing 310.
- the first rotation support surface 214 and the second rotation support surface 224 may cover the hinge housing 310, thereby not exposing the hinge housing 310 from the rear surface of the electronic device 200 or exposing only a portion thereof.
- the first rotation support surface 214 and the second rotation support surface 224 may rotate along the curved outer surface of the hinge housing 310 to expose at least a portion of the hinge housing 310 to the rear surface of the electronic device 200.
- the hinge device 300 may include a hinge housing 310 and at least one hinge module 320 disposed in an accommodation portion (e.g., accommodation portion 3101 in FIG. 4A ) of the hinge housing 310.
- the hinge module 320 may be fixed to the accommodation portion 3101 of the hinge housing 310, and may be connected to the first support member 261 and the second support member 262 through at least one rotator (e.g., rotators 331, 332, 333, 334 in FIG. 4A ).
- FIG. 4A is an exploded perspective view of an electronic device according to various embodiments of the disclosure.
- FIG. 4B is a perspective view of an electronic device in a folded state according to various embodiments of the disclosure.
- the electronic device 200 may include a first housing 210 including a first lateral member 213, a second housing 220 including a second lateral member 223, a hinge device 300 connecting the first housing 210 and the second housing 220 to be foldable with respect to each other, and a display 230 (e.g., first display 230 in FIG. 1 ) arranged to be supported by the first housing 210, the hinge device 300, and the second housing 220.
- the electronic device 200 may further include a first protection frame 35 coupled to the first housing 210 and a second protection frame 236 coupled to the second housing 220, with the edge of the display 230 interposed therebetween.
- the first housing 210 and the second housing 220 may be operated to be folded or unfolded relative to each other based on the folding axis A1 through the hinge device 300.
- the hinge device 300 has a length in a direction substantially parallel to the folding axis A1 (e.g., y-axis direction), and may include a hinge housing 310 including an accommodation portion 3101, and at least one hinge module 320 fixed to the accommodation portion 3101 of the hinge housing 310.
- the at least one hinge module 320 may include at least one plate-type rotator 331, 332, 333, 334 that connects the first housing 210 and the second housing 220 to be foldable with respect to each other.
- the hinge housing 310 may include a cover part 311 disposed to have a length along the folding axis A1, a first closed end 312 extended from one end of the cover part 311, and a second closed end 313 extended from the other end of the cover part 311.
- the accommodation portion 3101 may be formed through the cover part 311, the first closed end 312, and the second closed end 313.
- the outer surface of the cover part 311 may be formed in a curved shape, and the cover part 311 may be at least partially exposed to be visible to the outside in the folded state.
- the accommodation portion 3101 may be opened in a direction toward the display 230 and may have a fixing structure and/or a seating structure to which at least one hinge module 320 may be fixed.
- the at least one hinge module 320 may provide a pressing force in a folding direction or unfolding direction with respect to the inflection point during a folding operation and/or unfolding operation of the electronic device, through, although not shown, a hinge shaft, a hinge cam, and a cam member that presses the hinge cam in the longitudinal direction of the hinge shaft through a hinge spring, which are arranged in sequence in a direction substantially parallel to the folding axis A1.
- the at least one rotator 331, 332, 333, 334 may include a first rotator 331 coupled to the first support member 261 of the first housing 210 near the first closed end 312 being an upper region of the hinge housing 310, a second rotator 332 coupled to the second support member 262 of the second housing 220 near the first closed end 312 being an upper region of the hinge housing, a third rotator 333 coupled to the first support member 261 of the first housing 210 near the second closed end 313 being a lower region of the hinge housing 310, and a fourth rotator 334 coupled to the second support member 262 of the second housing 220 near the second closed end 313 being a lower region of the hinge housing 310.
- the at least one rotator 331, 332, 333, 334 may be coupled to the first support member 261 and the second support member 262 through a fastening member such as a screw.
- the hinge housing 310 may be connected to the first housing 210 and the second housing 220 through at least one hinge module 320.
- the at least one hinge module 320 including at least one rotator 331, 332, 333, 334 may be coupled to the first support member 261 and the second support member 262 so as to have a substantially flat surface.
- the at least one hinge module 320 may be connected to the first housing 210 and the second housing 220 through the at least one rotator 331, 332, 333, 334.
- the at least one rotator 331, 332, 333, 334 may be disposed to have a flow gap (e.g., working gap) (e.g., flow gaps g1, g2 in FIG. 6A ) in a direction substantially parallel to the folding axis.
- the electronic device 200 may include a breakage prevention structure for eliminating such a flow gap when in a folded state.
- the electronic device 200 according to exemplary embodiments of the disclosure may include a breakage prevention structure for eliminating such a flow gap when in an unfolded state.
- FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing arrangement of the hinge device in the electronic device according to various embodiments of the disclosure.
- FIG. 5 illustrates the arrangement relationship between the hinge device 300, the first housing 210, and the second housing 220 when the electronic device is in an unfolded state.
- the electronic device 200 may include a first housing 210, a second housing 220, and a hinge device 300 that connects the first housing 210 and the second housing 220 to be foldable with respect to each other.
- the hinge device 300 may have a length in a direction substantially parallel to the folding axis A1 (e.g., y-axis direction), may be fixed to the hinge housing 310 including an accommodation portion 3101 and the accommodation portion 3101 of the hinge housing 310, and may include at least one hinge module 320 including rotators 331, 332, 333, 334 fixed to the first housing 210 and the second housing 220.
- the rotators 331, 332, 333, 334 may include a first rotator 331 and a second rotator 332, disposed near the first closed end 312 in the accommodation portion 3101 of the hinge housing 310, and coupled respectively to the first housing 210 and the second housing 220.
- the rotators 331, 332, 333, 334 may include a third rotator 333 and a fourth rotator 334, disposed near the second closed end 313 in the accommodation portion 3101 of the hinge housing 310, and coupled respectively to the first housing 210 and the second housing 220.
- FIG. 6A is an enlarged view of a portion indicated by indicia 6a in FIG. 5 according to various embodiments of the disclosure.
- FIG. 6B is a partial cross-sectional perspective view of a hinge housing and a rotator viewed along line 6b-6b in FIG. 6A according to various embodiments of the disclosure.
- the first rotator 331 and the second rotator 332 may be disposed to have flow gaps g1 and g2 spaced apart from the first closed end 312 by a specified distance in a direction parallel to the folding axis A1 in the accommodation portion 3101 of the hinge housing 310.
- the flow gaps g1 and g2 may be provided to minimize interference caused when the first rotator 331 and the second rotator 332 come into contact with the hinge housing 310 while the first housing 210 and the second housing 220 are being folded and unfolded or in the unfolded state.
- These flow gaps g1 and g2 may be maintained until the first rotator 331 and the second rotator 332 are changed from the unfolded state to just before the folded state (e.g., until a folding angle of about 5 ° before the completely folded state).
- the third and fourth rotators 333 and 334 may also have substantially the same structure as to the second closed end 313.
- the first rotator 331 may include a protrusion 3311 formed to be extended in the direction of the first closed end 312.
- the protrusion 3311 may include a mounting surface 331a facing the display (e.g., display 230 in FIG. 4A ), and a side surface 331b extended from the mounting surface 331a and facing the first closed end 312.
- the first rotator 331 may include a first inclined portion 3312 formed to be inclined at a specified angle ⁇ on the side surface 331b of the protrusion 3311.
- the first closed end 312 may include a second inclined surface 3122 that is formed at a corresponding position so as to come into contact with the first inclined surface 3312 when the electronic device 200 is in the folded state.
- the second inclined surface 3122 may be formed at a position not in contact with the first inclined surface 3312 even when the first rotator 331 is moved in a range from an unfolded state to just before a folded state.
- the first inclined surface 3312 included in the protrusion 3311 may be formed in a shape that does not come into contact with the second inclined surface 3312 even when the first rotator 331 is moved in a range from an unfolded state to just before a folded state.
- the second inclined surface 3312 may be formed at a position in surface contact with the first inclined surface 3312 when the electronic device 200 reaches the folded state.
- the first inclined portion 3312 may be formed to be gradually lowered as it goes in the negative z-axis direction in the unfolded state.
- the second inclined portion 3122 may be formed to be gradually heightened as it goes in the x-axis direction.
- the second rotator 332 and the first closed end 312, the third rotator 333 and the second closed end 313, and/or the fourth rotator 334 and the second closed end 313 may also be formed to have a contact structure substantially the same as that of the first inclined portion 3312 formed at the first rotator 331 and the second inclined portion 3122 formed at the first closed end 312.
- FIG. 7A is a partial configuration view showing arrangement of the hinge housing and the rotator in the folded state according to various embodiments of the disclosure.
- FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a coupling structure between the hinge housing and the rotator viewed along line 7b-7b in FIG. 7A according to various embodiments of the disclosure.
- FIG. 7A is a partial cross-sectional view of the electronic device viewed along line 7a-7a in FIG. 4B .
- the first inclined portion 3312 of the first rotator 331 may come into contact with the second inclined portion 3122 of the first closed end 312.
- the first inclined portion 3312 and the second inclined portion 3122 may contact each other at least partially in the form of a surface contact.
- the second rotator 332 and the first closed end 312, the third rotator 333 and the second closed end 313, and/or the fourth rotator 334 and the second closed end 313 may come at least partially into surface contact with each other in substantially the same manner as the first inclined portion 3312 and the second inclined portion 3122 formed respectively at the first rotator 331 and the first closed end 312.
- first inclined portion 3312 and the second inclined portion 3122 do not contact each other in a range from the unfolded state to just before the folded state (e.g., until a folding angle of about 5 ° before the completely folded state), and the flow gaps g1 and g2 are provided between the rotators 331, 332, 333 and 334 and the hinge housing 310, thereby facilitating smooth folding and unfolding of the electronic device 210.
- FIG. 7C is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a coupling structure between the hinge housing and the rotator according to various embodiments of the disclosure.
- the electronic device 200 may include a buffer layer 3123 disposed between the first inclined portion 3312 and the second inclined portion 3122.
- the buffer layer 3123 may be formed on the first inclined portion 3312 and/or the second inclined portion 3122.
- the buffer layer 3123 may include an elastic coating layer or a Teflon coating layer based on an elastic material (e.g., urethane, rubber, resin, or silicone) disposed on the first inclined portion 3312 and/or the second inclined portion 3122.
- an elastic material e.g., urethane, rubber, resin, or silicone
- the buffer layer 3123 may also be applied in a substantially same manner to the second rotator 332 and the first closed end 312, the third rotator 333 and the second closed end 313, and/or the fourth rotator 334 and the second closed end 313.
- FIG. 8 is a view showing an operational trajectory of the rotator with respect to the hinge housing during a transition from the unfolded state to the folded state according to various embodiments of the disclosure.
- the first rotator 331 may be moved, relative to the hinge housing, from position (a) being in the unfolded state, along a trajectory of (b), (c) and (d), and finally to position (e) being in the folded state.
- the first rotator 331 may be not in contact with the hinge housing 310 in a direction substantially parallel to the folding axis A1 (e.g., in y-axis direction) during states (a) to (d).
- the protrusion 3311 and the first inclined portion 3312 of the first rotator 331 may not come into contact with the first closed end 312 of the hinge housing 310 during states (a) to (d).
- the first inclined portion 3312 of the first rotator 331 may come into contact with the second inclined portion 3122 of the hinge housing 310.
- the flow gap e.g., flow gaps g1 and g2 in FIG.
- the second rotator 332 and the first closed end 312, the third rotator 333 and the second closed end 313, and/or the fourth rotator 334 and the second closed end 313 may also have substantially the same contact structure.
- FIG. 9A and FIG. 9B are schematic views illustrating the arrangement structure of the hinge housing and the rotator, respectively, in the unfolded state and the folded state of the electronic device according to various embodiments of the disclosure.
- the electronic device 200 may include a first housing 210, a second housing 220, and a hinge device 300 that connects the first housing 210 and the second housing 220 to be foldable with respect to each other.
- the hinge device 300 may include a hinge housing 310 having a length in a direction substantially parallel to the folding axis A1, and a hinge module 320 fixed to the hinge housing 310 and including rotators 331, 332, 333, 334 coupled to the first housing 210 and the second housing 220.
- the rotators 331, 332, 333, 334 may include a first rotator 331 and a second rotator 332 disposed near the first closed end 312 formed in an upper region UA of the hinge housing 310 and coupled respectively to the first housing 210 and the second housing 220, and may include a third rotator 333 and a fourth rotator 334 disposed near the second closed end 313 formed in a lower region LA and coupled respectively to the first housing 210 and the second housing 220.
- the first rotator 331 and the third rotator 333 may be coupled to the first support member 261 included in the first housing 210, and the second rotator 332 and the fourth rotator 334 may be coupled to the second support member 262 included in the second housing 220.
- the first inclined portion 3312 may not come into contact in a direction parallel to the folding axis A1 with the second inclined portion 3122 formed at the first closed end 312 of the hinge housing 310.
- the second rotator 332 may also not come into contact with the first closed end 312 of the hinge housing 310.
- the third rotator 333 may also not come into contact with the second closed end 313 of the hinge housing 310.
- the fourth rotator 334 may also not come into contact with the second closed end 313 of the hinge housing 310.
- the first inclined portion 3312 when the electronic device 200 reaches the folded state, the first inclined portion 3312 may come into contact with, in a first upper region UA1, the second inclined portion 3122 formed at the first closed end 312 of the hinge housing 310.
- the second rotator 332 may come into contact with, in a second upper region UA2, at least a portion of the first closed end 312 in substantially the same manner.
- the third rotator 333 may come into contact with, in a first lower region LA1, at least a portion of the second closed end 313 in substantially the same manner.
- the fourth rotator 334 may come into contact with, in a second lower region LA2, at least a portion of the second closed end 313 in substantially the same manner.
- the flow gaps e.g., flow gaps g1 and g2 in FIG. 6A
- the inclined portions e.g., first inclined portion 3312 and second inclined portion 3122
- FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of a portion indicated by indicia 10 in FIG. 5 according to various embodiments of the disclosure.
- the electronic device 200 may include an additional breakage prevention structure for reducing the possibility of misalignment or distortion of the two housings 210 and 220 that may be caused by an external impact such as a fall in the unfolded state.
- the first rotator 331 may include a first coupling protrusion 3315 that is formed, in the unfolded state of the electronic device 200, to protrude in the direction of the second rotator 332 (e.g., negative x-axis direction) and to be fitted to a first accommodation groove 3325 formed in the second rotator 332.
- the second rotator 332 may include a second coupling protrusion 3326 that is formed, in the unfolded state of the electronic device 200, to protrude in the direction of the first rotator 331 (e.g., x-axis direction) and to be fitted to a second accommodation groove 3316 formed in the first rotator 331.
- the first and second coupling protrusions 3315 and 3326 and the first and second accommodation grooves 3325 and 3316 may be coupled only when the electronic device 200 is in the unfolded state, and may be separated so as not to interfere with each other during a transition from the unfolded state to the folded state. Therefore, when the electronic device 200 is in the unfolded state, the first coupling protrusion 3315 is coupled to the first accommodation groove 3325 and the second coupling protrusion 3326 is coupled to the second accommodation groove 3316, so that a phenomenon in which the two housings 210 and 220 are distorted or displaced in a direction parallel to the folding axis A1 due to an external impact such as a drop can be reduced.
- FIG. 11 is a partial perspective view of the electronic device including a breakage prevention structure disposed between the hinge housing and the two housings at a portion indicated by indicia 11 in FIG. 4B according to various embodiments of the disclosure.
- the electronic device 200 may include an additional prevention structure for filling a flow gap g3 formed between the hinge housing 310, the first housing 210 and the second housing 220 in the folded state.
- the electronic device 200 may include a first contact protrusion 315 disposed to fill the flow gap g3 between the first housing 210 and the hinge housing 310 in the folded state.
- the first contact protrusion 315 may be formed at a corresponding position of the first housing 210 or at a corresponding position on the outer surface of the hinge housing 310.
- the first contact protrusion 315 may be replaced with the surface contact structure between the first inclined portion (e.g., first inclined portion 3312 in FIG.
- the electronic device 200 may include a second contact protrusion 315 having substantially the same structure as the first contact protrusion 315 to fill the flow gap g3 between the second housing 220 and the hinge housing 310.
- the first housing 210 and the second housing 220 may be spaced apart from the hinge housing 310 through the flow gap g3 in a range from the unfolded state to just before the folded state, and may come into contact with the hinge housing 310 in a direction substantially parallel to the folding axis A1, in the folded state, as the flow gap is filled through the first contact protrusion 315 and the second contact protrusion 316.
- substantially the same contact protrusions may be disposed between the hinge housing 310 and the first housing 210 and between the hinge housing 310 and the second housing 220. Accordingly, in the unfolded state of the electronic device 200 according to exemplary embodiments of the disclosure, a phenomenon in which the two housings 210 and 220 are misaligned or distorted, which may be caused by an external impact such as a drop, can be reduced.
- an electronic device may include: a first housing (e.g., first housing 210 in FIG. 5 ); a second housing (e.g., second housing 220 in FIG. 5 ); a hinge device (e.g., hinge device 300 in FIG. 5 ) that connects the first housing and the second housing in a movable manner relative to each other with respect to a folding axis (e.g., folding axis A1 in FIG. 5 ), and includes a hinge housing (e.g., hinge housing 310 in FIG. 5 ) having an accommodation portion (e.g., accommodating portion 3101 in FIG.
- a hinge housing e.g., hinge housing 310 in FIG. 5
- accommodation portion e.g., accommodating portion 3101 in FIG.
- a hinge module e.g., hinge module 320 in FIG. 5
- a hinge module e.g., hinge module 320 in FIG. 5
- at least one rotator e.g., first rotator 331 in FIG. 5
- a flexible display e.g., flexible display 230 in FIG. 4A
- the at least one rotator may be disposed to allow at least some thereof to be at least partially in contact with the hinge housing in a folded state, and to be spaced apart from the hinge housing by a specified distance in an unfolded state.
- the at least one rotator and the hinge housing may be at least partially in contact with each other along a direction parallel to the folding axis.
- the hinge housing may include a cover part formed to have a length along the folding axis, a first closed end extended from one end of the cover part, and a second closed end extended from the other end of the cover part; the accommodation portion may be formed through the cover part, the first closed end, and the second closed end.
- the at least one rotator may include a protrusion including a first inclined portion; for the at least one rotator, in the folded state, the first inclined portion may be in at least partial surface contact with a second inclined portion formed at the first closed end and/or the second closed end.
- the first inclined portion may be formed to be gradually heightened in a direction perpendicular to the folding axis direction in the unfolded state; the second inclined portion may be formed in a shape corresponding to the first inclined portion so as to be in contact with the first inclined portion in the folded state.
- the hinge module may include a first hinge module that is fixed near the first closed end in the accommodation portion, and a second hinge module that is spaced apart from the first closed end by a specified distance in the accommodation portion and fixed near the second closed end.
- the at least one rotator may include a first rotator included in the first hinge module and coupled to the first housing, a second rotator included in the first hinge module and coupled to the second housing, a third rotator included in the second hinge module and coupled to the first housing, and a fourth rotator included in the second hinge module and coupled to the second housing.
- the protrusion including the first inclined portion may be formed on at least one rotator among the first rotator, the second rotator, the third rotator, and the fourth rotator; the second inclined portion may be formed at a position corresponding to the first inclined portion of the first closed end and/or the second closed end.
- the first housing may include a first lateral member at least partially constituting an external appearance of the electronic device, and a first support member coupled to the first lateral member; the first rotator and the third rotator may be coupled to the first support member.
- the first rotator and the third rotator may be coupled to the first support member so as to form substantially the same plane.
- the second housing may include a second lateral member at least partially constituting the external appearance of the electronic device, and a second support member coupled to the second lateral member; the second rotator and the fourth rotator may be coupled to the second support member.
- the second rotator and the fourth rotator may be coupled to the second support member so as to form substantially the same plane.
- the flexible display may be disposed to cross the hinge device and be supported by the first support member and the second support member.
- the hinge housing and/or the at least one rotator may be made of a metallic material.
- the cover part in the folded state, may be hidden to be invisible from the outside through the first housing and the second housing.
- an electronic device may include: a first housing that includes a first surface, a second surface facing in a direction opposite to the first surface, and a first lateral member surrounding a first space between the first surface and the second surface; a second housing that is foldably connected to the first housing through a hinge device, and includes a third surface facing in the same direction as the first surface in an unfolded state, a fourth surface facing in a direction opposite to the third surface, and a second lateral member surrounding a second space between the third surface and the fourth surface; and a flexible display disposed to be bendable from at least a portion of the first surface across the hinge device to at least a portion of the second surface, wherein the hinge device may include a hinge housing having an accommodation portion, and at least one hinge module disposed in the accommodation portion and including at least one rotator connected to the first housing and the second housing, wherein the at least one rotator may be disposed to allow at least some thereof to be at least partially in contact with the hinge housing in a folded state, and
- the at least one rotator and the hinge housing may be at least partially in contact with each other along a direction parallel to the folding axis.
- the hinge housing may include a cover part formed to have a length along the folding axis, a first closed end extended from one end of the cover part, and a second closed end extended from the other end of the cover part; the accommodation portion may be formed through the cover part, the first closed end, and the second closed end.
- the at least one rotator may include a protrusion including a first inclined portion; for the at least one rotator, in the folded state, the first inclined portion may be in at least partial surface contact with a second inclined portion formed at the first closed end and/or the second closed end.
- the first inclined portion is formed to be gradually heightened in a direction perpendicular to the folding axis direction in the unfolded state; the second inclined portion may be formed in a shape corresponding to the first inclined portion so as to be in contact with the first inclined portion in the folded state.
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Abstract
Description
- Various embodiments of the disclosure relate to an electronic device including a breakage prevention structure.
- As the functional gap between manufacturers is significantly reduced, electronic devices are becoming slimmer to meet consumer's purchasing needs. Also, electronic devices are being developed by increasing rigidity, enhancing design aspects, and differentiating their functions. As part of this trend, electronic devices may require a robust structure that can withstand impact transferred from the outside.
- Electronic devices may include a foldable electronic device, which includes a first housing, a second housing foldably connected to the first housing through a hinge device, and a flexible display disposed to be supported by the first housing and the second housing. The first housing and the second housing may be structurally coupled with a hinge module included in the hinge device, and may be operated while being supported by the hinge module in a folded state and/or an unfolded state. For example, the hinge module is at least partially fixed to the hinge housing including an accommodation portion, and is connected to portions of the first housing and the second housing through at least one rotator included in the hinge module, so that it can induce folding and unfolding operations. In this case, for smooth folding and unfolding operations, the rotator may be disposed to have a flow gap spaced apart by a pre-specified distance in a direction of the folding axis.
- However, when the foldable electronic device is exposed to an external impact such as a drop, in particular, when only one of the two housings receives an impact in the direction of the folding axis, the other housing may be displaced, through inertia and/or shearing stress, in the opposite direction at least by the flow gap described above, which may cause breakage and/or malfunction of the flexible display supported by the two housings.
- Various embodiments may provide an electronic device including a breakage prevention structure.
- According to various embodiments, it is possible to provide an electronic device having a robust structure by including a breakage prevention structure with only a relatively simple structural change.
- According to various embodiments, it is possible to provide an electronic device that includes a breakage prevention structure constituted to support smooth folding and/or unfolding operations.
- According to various embodiments, an electronic device may include: a first housing; a second housing; a hinge device that connects the first housing and the second housing in a movable manner relative to each other with respect to a folding axis, and includes a hinge housing having an accommodation portion, and a hinge module disposed in the accommodation portion and including at least one rotator connecting the first housing and the second housing; and a flexible display disposed to be supported by at least some of the first housing, the second housing, and the hinge device, wherein the at least one rotator may be disposed to allow at least some thereof to be at least partially in contact with the hinge housing in a folded state, and to be spaced apart from the hinge housing by a specified distance in an unfolded state.
- According to various embodiments, an electronic device may include: a first housing that includes a first surface, a second surface facing in a direction opposite to the first surface, and a first lateral member surrounding a first space between the first surface and the second surface; a second housing that is foldably connected to the first housing through a hinge device, and includes a third surface facing in the same direction as the first surface in an unfolded state, a fourth surface facing in a direction opposite to the third surface, and a second lateral member surrounding a second space between the third surface and the fourth surface; and a flexible display disposed to be bendable from at least a portion of the first surface across the hinge device to at least a portion of the second surface, wherein the hinge device may include a hinge housing having an accommodation portion, and at least one hinge module disposed in the accommodation portion and including at least one rotator connected to the first housing and the second housing, wherein the at least one rotator may be disposed to allow at least some thereof to be at least partially in contact with the hinge housing in a folded state, and to be spaced apart from the hinge housing by a specified distance in the unfolded state.
- The electronic device according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure includes a breakage prevention structure for preventing distortion due to shearing stress generated in the direction of the folding axis between the two housings in an event of a fall to thereby prevent malfunction and breakage of the display and improve the reliability of the electronic device.
- In addition, various effects identified directly or indirectly through this document can be provided.
- In connection with the description of the drawings, the same or similar reference symbols may be used for the same or similar elements.
-
FIG. 1 is a view illustrating an electronic device in an unfolded state according to various embodiments of the disclosure. -
FIG. 2 is a view illustrating the electronic device ofFIG. 1 in a folded state according to various embodiments of the disclosure. -
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of an electronic device according to various embodiments of the disclosure. -
FIG. 4A is an exploded perspective view of an electronic device according to various embodiments of the disclosure. -
FIG. 4B is a perspective view of an electronic device in a folded state according to various embodiments of the disclosure. -
FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing arrangement of a hinge device in the electronic device according to various embodiments of the disclosure. -
FIG. 6A is an enlarged view of a portion indicated by indicia 6a inFIG. 5 according to various embodiments of the disclosure. -
FIG. 6B is a partial cross-sectional perspective view of a hinge housing and a rotator viewed alongline 6b-6b inFIG. 6A according to various embodiments of the disclosure. -
FIG. 7A is a partial configuration view showing arrangement of the hinge housing and the rotator in the folded state according to various embodiments of the disclosure. -
FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a coupling structure between the hinge housing and the rotator viewed alongline 7b-7b inFIG. 7A according to various embodiments of the disclosure. -
FIG. 7C is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a coupling structure between the hinge housing and the rotator according to various embodiments of the disclosure. -
FIG. 8 is a view showing an operational trajectory of the rotator with respect to the hinge housing during a transition from the unfolded state to the folded state according to various embodiments of the disclosure. -
FIG. 9A andFIG. 9B are schematic views illustrating the arrangement structure of the hinge housing and the rotator, respectively, in the unfolded state and the folded state of the electronic device according to various embodiments of the disclosure. -
FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of a portion indicated byindicia 10 inFIG. 5 according to various embodiments of the disclosure. -
FIG. 11 is a partial perspective view of the electronic device including a breakage prevention structure disposed between the hinge housing and the two housings at a portion indicated byindicia 11 inFIG. 4B according to various embodiments of the disclosure. -
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an unfolded state of anelectronic device 200 according to various embodiments of the disclosure.FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a folded state of theelectronic device 200 ofFIG. 1 according to various embodiments of the disclosure. - Referring to
FIGS. 1 and2 , theelectronic device 200 may include a pair ofhousings 210 and 220 (e.g., foldable housing) rotatably coupled based on a folding axis A1 through a hinge device (e.g., ahinge device 300 ofFIG. 3 ) to be foldable with respect to each other, a first display 230 (e.g., flexible display, foldable display, or main display) disposed through the pair ofhousings second housing 220. According to certain embodiments, at least a portion (e.g.,hinge device 300 ofFIG. 3 ) of the hinge device (e.g., thehinge device 300 ofFIG. 3 ) may be disposed to not be visible from the outside through thefirst housing 210 and thesecond housing 220 and disposed to not be visible from the outside through ahinge housing 310 covering a foldable portion in an unfolded state. In this document, a surface in which thefirst display 230 is disposed may be defined as a front surface of theelectronic device 200, and an opposite surface of the front surface may be defined as a rear surface of theelectronic device 200. Further, a surface enclosing a space between the front surface and the rear surface may be defined as a side surface of theelectronic device 200. - According to various embodiments, the pair of
housings first housing 210 andsecond housing 220 disposed to be foldable with respect to each other through the hinge device (e.g., thehinge device 300 ofFIG. 3 ). According to certain embodiments, the pair ofhousings FIGS. 1 and2 , and may be implemented by a combination and/or coupling of other shapes or parts. According to certain embodiments, thefirst housing 210 and thesecond housing 220 may be disposed at both sides based on the folding axis A1, and have an overall symmetrical shape with respect to the folding axis A1. According to some embodiments, thefirst housing 210 and thesecond housing 220 may be folded asymmetrically based on the folding axis A1. According to certain embodiments, thefirst housing 210 and thesecond housing 220 may have different angles or distances from each other according to whether theelectronic device 200 is in an unfolded state, a folded state, or an intermediate state. - According to various embodiments, when the
electronic device 200 is in an unfolded state, thefirst housing 210 may include afirst surface 211 connected to the hinge device (e.g., thehinge device 300 ofFIG. 3 ) and disposed to face the front of theelectronic device 200, asecond surface 212 facing in a direction opposite to that of thefirst surface 211, and/or afirst side member 213 enclosing at least a portion of a first space between thefirst surface 211 and thesecond surface 212. According to certain embodiments, when theelectronic device 200 is in an unfolded state, thesecond housing 220 may include athird surface 221 connected to the hinge device (e.g., thehinge device 300 ofFIG. 3 ), and disposed to face the front of theelectronic device 200, afourth surface 222 facing in a direction opposite that of thethird surface 221, and/or asecond side member 223 enclosing at least a portion of a second space between thethird surface 221 and thefourth surface 222. According to certain embodiments, thefirst surface 211 may face in substantially the same direction as that of thethird surface 221 when the electronic device is in an unfolded state and at least partially face thethird surface 221 when the electronic device is in a folded state. According to certain embodiments, theelectronic device 200 may include arecess 201 formed to receive thefirst display 230 through structural coupling of thefirst housing 210 and thesecond housing 220. According to certain embodiments, therecess 201 may have substantially the same size as that of thefirst display 230. - According to various embodiments, the hinge housing 310 (e.g., hinge cover) may be disposed between the
first housing 210 and thesecond housing 220 and be disposed to cover a hinge device (e.g.: thehinge device 300 ofFIG. 3 ) disposed in thehinge housing 310. According to certain embodiments, thehinge housing 310 may be covered by a part of thefirst housing 210 and thesecond housing 220 or may be exposed to the outside according to an unfolded state, a folded state, or an intermediate state of theelectronic device 200. For example, when theelectronic device 200 is in an unfolded state, at least a portion of thehinge housing 310 may be covered by thefirst housing 210 and thesecond housing 220 to not be substantially exposed. According to certain embodiments, when theelectronic device 200 is in a folded state, at least a portion of thehinge housing 310 may be exposed to the outside between thefirst housing 210 and thesecond housing 220. According to certain embodiments, when thefirst housing 210 and thesecond housing 220 are in an intermediate state folded with a certain angle, thehinge housing 310 may be at least partially exposed to the outside of theelectronic device 200 between thefirst housing 210 and thesecond housing 220. For example, an area in which thehinge housing 310 is exposed to the outside may be smaller than that in a fully folded state. According to certain embodiments, thehinge housing 310 may include a curved surface. - According to various embodiments, when the
electronic device 200 is in an unfolded state (e.g., the state ofFIG. 1 ), thefirst housing 210 and thesecond housing 220 form an angle of approximately 180 degrees, and afirst area 230a, afolding area 230c, and asecond area 230b of thefirst display 230 may form the same flat surface and be disposed to face in substantially the same direction. In another embodiment, when theelectronic device 200 is in an unfolded state, thefirst housing 210 may rotate at an angle of approximately 360 degrees with respect to thesecond housing 220 so that thesecond surface 212 and thefourth surface 222 may be reversely folded to face each other (out-folding method). - According to various embodiments, when the
electronic device 200 is in the folded state (e.g., the state ofFIG. 3 ), thefirst surface 211 of thefirst housing 210 and thethird surface 221 of thesecond housing 220 may be disposed to face each other. In this case, thefirst area 230a and thesecond area 230b of thefirst display 230 may form a narrow angle (e.g., a range of 0 degree to approximately 10 degree) each other through thefolding area 230c and be disposed to face each other. According to certain embodiments, at least a portion of thefolding area 230c may be transformed into a curved shape having a predetermined curvature. According to certain embodiments, when theelectronic device 200 is in an intermediate state, thefirst housing 210 and thesecond housing 220 may be disposed at a certain angle to each other. In this case, thefirst area 230a and thesecond area 230b of thefirst display 230 may form an angle larger than the folded state and smaller than the unfolded state, and a curvature of thefolding area 230c may be smaller than that of the folded state and be larger than that of the unfolded state. In some embodiments, thefirst housing 210 and thesecond housing 220 may form an angle that may stop at a specified folding angle between the folded state and the unfolded state through the hinge device (e.g., thehinge device 300 ofFIG. 3 ) (free stop function). In some embodiments, thefirst housing 210 and thesecond housing 220 may be operated while being pressurized in an unfolding direction or a folding direction based on a specified inflection angle through the hinge device (e.g., thehinge device 300 ofFIG. 3 ). - According to various embodiments, the
electronic device 200 may include at least one of at least onedisplay input device 215,sound output devices sensor modules camera modules key input device 219, an indicator, or aconnector port 229 disposed in thefirst housing 210 and/or thesecond housing 220. In some embodiments, theelectronic device 200 may omit at least one of the components or may additionally include at least one other component. - According to various embodiments, the at least one
display third surface 221 of thesecond housing 220 through the hinge device (e.g., thehinge device 300 ofFIG. 3 ) from thefirst surface 211 of thefirst housing 210, and asecond display 400 disposed to be visible at least partially from the outside through thefourth surface 222 in an inner space of thesecond housing 220. As another example, thesecond display 400 may be disposed to be visible from the outside through thesecond surface 212 in an inner space of thefirst housing 210. According to certain embodiments, thefirst display 230 may be mainly used in an unfolded state of theelectronic device 200, and thesecond display 400 may be mainly used in a folded state of theelectronic device 200. According to certain embodiments, when theelectronic device 200 is in an intermediate state, theelectronic device 200 may control thefirst display 230 and/or thesecond display 400 to be usable based on a folding angle of thefirst housing 210 and thesecond housing 220. - According to various embodiments, the
first display 230 may be disposed in a receiving space formed by a pair ofhousings first display 230 may be disposed in therecess 201 formed by the pair ofhousings electronic device 200 is in an unfolded state, thefirst display 230 may be disposed to occupy substantially most of the front surface of theelectronic device 200. According to certain embodiments, thefirst display 230 may include a flexible display whose at least a partial area may be transformed into a flat surface or a curved surface. According to certain embodiments, thefirst display 230 may include afirst area 230a facing thefirst housing 210, asecond area 230b facing thesecond housing 220, and afolding area 230c connecting thefirst area 230a and thesecond area 230b and facing the hinge device (e.g., thehinge device 300 ofFIG. 3 ). According to certain embodiments, area division of thefirst display 230 is an exemplary physical division by a pair ofhousings hinge device 300 ofFIG. 3 ), and thefirst display 230 may be displayed as a substantially seamless single full screen through the pair ofhousings hinge device 300 ofFIG. 3 ). According to certain embodiments, thefirst area 230a and thesecond area 230b may have an overall symmetrical shape or a partially asymmetrical shape based on thefolding area 230c. - According to various embodiments, the
electronic device 200 may include a firstrear cover 240 disposed at thesecond surface 212 of thefirst housing 210 and a secondrear cover 250 disposed at thefourth surface 222 of thesecond housing 220. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the firstrear cover 240 may be integrally formed with thefirst side member 213. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the secondrear cover 250 may be integrally formed with thesecond side member 223. According to certain embodiments, at least one cover of the firstrear cover 240 and the secondrear cover 250 may be formed with a substantially transparent plate (e.g., a polymer plate or a glass plate including various coating layers) or an opaque plate. According to certain embodiments, the firstrear cover 240 may be formed by an opaque plate such as, for example, coated or tinted glass, ceramic, polymer, metal (e.g., aluminum, stainless steel (STS), or magnesium), or a combination of at least two of the above materials. According to certain embodiments, the secondrear cover 250 may be formed through a substantially transparent plate such as glass or polymer, for example. Accordingly, thesecond display 400 may be disposed to be visible from the outside through the secondrear cover 250 in an inner space of thesecond housing 220. - According to various embodiments, the
input device 215 may include a microphone. In some embodiments, theinput device 215 may include a plurality of microphones disposed to detect a direction of a sound. According to certain embodiments, thesound output devices sound output devices call receiver 227 disposed through thefourth surface 222 of thesecond housing 220 and anexternal speaker 228 disposed through at least a portion of thesecond side member 223 of thesecond housing 220. In some embodiments, theinput device 215, thesound output devices connector 229 may be disposed in spaces of thefirst housing 210 and/or thesecond housing 220 and be exposed to an external environment through at least one hole formed in thefirst housing 210 and/or thesecond housing 220. In some embodiments, holes formed in thefirst housing 210 and/or thesecond housing 220 may be commonly used for theinput device 215 and thesound output devices sound output devices first housing 210 and/or thesecond housing 220. - According to various embodiments, the
camera modules first camera module 216a disposed at thefirst surface 211 of thefirst housing 210, asecond camera module 216b disposed at thesecond surface 212 of thefirst housing 210, and/or athird camera module 225 disposed at thefourth surface 222 of thesecond housing 220. According to certain embodiments, theelectronic device 200 may include aflash 218 disposed near thesecond camera module 216b. According to certain embodiments, theflash 218 may include, for example, a light emitting diode or a xenon lamp. According to certain embodiments, thecamera modules camera modules first housing 210 and/or thesecond housing 220. - According to various embodiments, the
sensor modules electronic device 200 or an external environmental state. According to certain embodiments, thesensor modules first sensor module 217a disposed at thefirst surface 211 of thefirst housing 210, asecond sensor module 217b disposed at thesecond surface 212 of thefirst housing 210, and/or athird sensor module 226 disposed at thefourth surface 222 of thesecond housing 220. In some embodiments, thesensor modules - According to various embodiments, the
electronic device 200 may further include a sensor module, for example, at least one of an atmospheric pressure sensor, a magnetic sensor, a biometric sensor, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, or a fingerprint recognition sensor. In some embodiments, the fingerprint recognition sensor may be disposed through at least one of thefirst side member 213 of thefirst housing 210 and/or thesecond side member 223 of thesecond housing 220. - According to various embodiments, the
key input device 219 may be disposed to be exposed to the outside through thefirst side member 213 of thefirst housing 210. In some embodiments, thekey input device 219 may be disposed to be exposed to the outside through thesecond side member 223 of thesecond housing 220. In some embodiments, theelectronic device 200 may not include some or all of thekey input devices 219, and the non-includedkey input devices 219 may be implemented into other forms such as soft keys on at least onedisplay key input device 219 may be implemented using a pressure sensor included in at least onedisplay - According to various embodiments, the
connector port 229 may include a connector (e.g., USB connector or interface connector port module (IF module)) for transmitting and receiving power and/or data to and from an external electronic device. In some embodiments, theconnector port 229 may further include a separate connector port (e.g., ear jack hole) for performing together a function for transmitting and receiving an audio signal to and from an external electronic device or for performing a function of transmitting and receiving an audio signal. - According to various embodiments, at least one
camera module camera modules sensor module sensor modules display camera module sensor module displays housing first display 230 and/or the second rear cover 250). According to certain embodiments, an area in which thedisplays camera module camera module displays camera module sensor modules camera modules sensor modules displays 230 and 400 (e.g., display panel) has an under display camera (UDC) structure; thus, a perforated opening may be unnecessary. -
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating anelectronic device 200 according to various embodiments of the disclosure. - Referring to
FIG. 3 , theelectronic device 200 may include afirst display 230, asecond display 400, ahinge device 300, asupport member assembly 260, at least one printedcircuit board 270, afirst housing 210, asecond housing 220, a firstrear cover 240, and/or a secondrear cover 250. - According to various embodiments, the
first display 230 may include a display panel 231 (e.g., flexible display panel) and one ormore plates 232 or layers in which thedisplay panel 231 is seated. According to certain embodiments, thedisplay panel 231 may include afirst panel area 231a corresponding to the first area (e.g., thefirst area 230a ofFIG. 1 ) of thedisplay 230, asecond panel area 231b extended from the first panel area and corresponding to the second area (e.g., thesecond area 230b ofFIG. 1 ) of thedisplay 230, and athird area 231c connecting thefirst panel area 231a and thesecond panel area 231b and corresponding to a folding area (e.g., thefolding area 230c ofFIG. 1 ) of thedisplay 230. According to certain embodiments, the one ormore plates 232 may include a conductive plate (e.g., Cu sheet or SUS sheet) disposed between thedisplay panel 231 and thesupport member assembly 260. According to certain embodiments, the one ormore plates 232 may be formed to have substantially the same area as that of thefirst display 230, and an area facing a folding area (e.g., thefolding area 230c ofFIG. 1 ) of thefirst display 230 may be formed to be bendable. According to certain embodiments, the one ormore plates 232 may include at least one auxiliary material layer (e.g., graphite member) disposed at a rear surface of thedisplay panel 231. According to certain embodiments, the one ormore plates 232 may be formed in a shape corresponding to thedisplay panel 231. - According to various embodiments, the
second display 400 may be disposed in a space between thesecond housing 220 and the secondrear cover 250. According to certain embodiments, thesecond display 400 may be disposed to be visible from the outside through substantially the entire area of the secondrear cover 250 in a space between thesecond housing 220 and the secondrear cover 250. - According to various embodiments, the
support member assembly 260 may include a first support member 261 (e.g., first support plate) and a second support member 262 (e.g., second support plate). According to certain embodiments, thefirst support member 261 may be foldably coupled to thesecond support member 262 through thehinge device 300. According to certain embodiments, theelectronic device 200 may include at least one wiring member 263 (e.g., flexible printed circuit board (FPCB)) disposed from at least a portion of thefirst support member 261 across thehinge device 300 to a portion of thesecond support member 262. According to certain embodiments, thesupport member assembly 260 may be disposed between one ormore plates 232 and at least one printedcircuit board 270. According to certain embodiments, thefirst support member 261 may be disposed between the first area (e.g., thefirst area 230a ofFIG. 1 ) of thefirst display 230 and a first printedcircuit board 271. According to certain embodiments, thesecond support member 262 may be disposed between the second area (e.g., thesecond area 230b ofFIG. 1 ) of thefirst display 230 and a second printedcircuit board 272. According to certain embodiments, the at least onewiring member 263 and/or at least a portion of thehinge device 300 may be disposed to be supported through at least a portion of thesupport member assembly 260. According to certain embodiments, the at least onewiring member 263 may be disposed in a direction (e.g., x-axis direction) crossing thefirst support member 261 and thesecond support member 262. According to certain embodiments, the at least onewiring member 263 may be disposed in a direction (e.g., the x-axis direction) substantially perpendicular to the folding axis (e.g., the y-axis or the folding axis A1 ofFIG. 1 ) of thefolding area 230c. - According to various embodiments, the at least one printed
circuit board 270 may include a first printedcircuit board 271 disposed to face thefirst support member 261 or a second printedcircuit board 272 disposed to face thesecond support member 262. According to certain embodiments, the first printedcircuit board 271 and the second printedcircuit board 272 may be disposed in an inner space formed by thesupport member assembly 260, thefirst housing 210, thesecond housing 220, and the firstrear cover 240, and/or the secondrear cover 250. According to certain embodiments, the first printedcircuit board 271 and the second printedcircuit board 272 may include a plurality of electronic components disposed to implement various functions of theelectronic device 200. In some embodiments, thefirst support member 261 is a component of thefirst housing 210 and may be extended at least partially from thefirst side member 213 to a first space (e.g., first interior space) in which thefirst housing 210 is formed. In some embodiments, thesecond support member 262 is a component of thesecond housing 220 and may be extended at least partially from thesecond side member 223 to a second space (e.g., second interior space) in which thesecond housing 220 is formed. - According to various embodiments, the
electronic device 200 may include a first printedcircuit board 271 disposed in a first space of thefirst housing 210, afirst battery 291 disposed at a position facing afirst swelling hole 2611 of thefirst support member 261, at least one camera module 282 (e.g., thefirst camera module 216a and/or thesecond camera module 216b ofFIG. 1 ), or at least one sensor module 281 (e.g., thefirst sensor module 217a and/or thesecond sensor module 217b ofFIG. 1 ). According to certain embodiments, theelectronic device 200 may include a second printedcircuit board 272 disposed in the second space of thesecond housing 220 or asecond battery 292 disposed in a position facing asecond swelling hole 2621 of thesecond support member 262. According to certain embodiments, thefirst housing 210 may be integrally formed with thefirst support member 261. According to certain embodiments, thesecond housing 220 may be integrally formed with thesecond support member 262. - According to various embodiments, the
first housing 210 may include a firstrotation support surface 214, and thesecond housing 220 may include a secondrotation support surface 224 corresponding to the firstrotation support surface 214. According to certain embodiments, the firstrotation support surface 214 and the secondrotation support surface 224 may include curved surfaces corresponding to (naturally connected to) a curved outer surface of thehinge housing 310. According to certain embodiments, when theelectronic device 200 is in an unfolded state, the firstrotation support surface 214 and the secondrotation support surface 224 may cover thehinge housing 310, thereby not exposing thehinge housing 310 from the rear surface of theelectronic device 200 or exposing only a portion thereof. According to certain embodiments, when theelectronic device 200 is in a folded state, the firstrotation support surface 214 and the secondrotation support surface 224 may rotate along the curved outer surface of thehinge housing 310 to expose at least a portion of thehinge housing 310 to the rear surface of theelectronic device 200. - According to various embodiments, the
hinge device 300 may include ahinge housing 310 and at least onehinge module 320 disposed in an accommodation portion (e.g.,accommodation portion 3101 inFIG. 4A ) of thehinge housing 310. According to an embodiment, thehinge module 320 may be fixed to theaccommodation portion 3101 of thehinge housing 310, and may be connected to thefirst support member 261 and thesecond support member 262 through at least one rotator (e.g.,rotators FIG. 4A ). -
FIG. 4A is an exploded perspective view of an electronic device according to various embodiments of the disclosure.FIG. 4B is a perspective view of an electronic device in a folded state according to various embodiments of the disclosure. - With reference to
FIGS. 4A and4B , theelectronic device 200 may include afirst housing 210 including a firstlateral member 213, asecond housing 220 including a secondlateral member 223, ahinge device 300 connecting thefirst housing 210 and thesecond housing 220 to be foldable with respect to each other, and a display 230 (e.g.,first display 230 inFIG. 1 ) arranged to be supported by thefirst housing 210, thehinge device 300, and thesecond housing 220. According to an embodiment, theelectronic device 200 may further include a first protection frame 35 coupled to thefirst housing 210 and asecond protection frame 236 coupled to thesecond housing 220, with the edge of thedisplay 230 interposed therebetween. According to an embodiment, thefirst housing 210 and thesecond housing 220 may be operated to be folded or unfolded relative to each other based on the folding axis A1 through thehinge device 300. - According to various embodiments, the
hinge device 300 has a length in a direction substantially parallel to the folding axis A1 (e.g., y-axis direction), and may include ahinge housing 310 including anaccommodation portion 3101, and at least onehinge module 320 fixed to theaccommodation portion 3101 of thehinge housing 310. According to an embodiment, the at least onehinge module 320 may include at least one plate-type rotator first housing 210 and thesecond housing 220 to be foldable with respect to each other. According to an embodiment, thehinge housing 310 may include acover part 311 disposed to have a length along the folding axis A1, a firstclosed end 312 extended from one end of thecover part 311, and a secondclosed end 313 extended from the other end of thecover part 311. According to an embodiment, theaccommodation portion 3101 may be formed through thecover part 311, the firstclosed end 312, and the secondclosed end 313. According to an embodiment, the outer surface of thecover part 311 may be formed in a curved shape, and thecover part 311 may be at least partially exposed to be visible to the outside in the folded state. According to an embodiment, theaccommodation portion 3101 may be opened in a direction toward thedisplay 230 and may have a fixing structure and/or a seating structure to which at least onehinge module 320 may be fixed. According to an embodiment, the at least onehinge module 320 may provide a pressing force in a folding direction or unfolding direction with respect to the inflection point during a folding operation and/or unfolding operation of the electronic device, through, although not shown, a hinge shaft, a hinge cam, and a cam member that presses the hinge cam in the longitudinal direction of the hinge shaft through a hinge spring, which are arranged in sequence in a direction substantially parallel to the folding axis A1. - According to various embodiments, the at least one
rotator first rotator 331 coupled to thefirst support member 261 of thefirst housing 210 near the firstclosed end 312 being an upper region of thehinge housing 310, asecond rotator 332 coupled to thesecond support member 262 of thesecond housing 220 near the firstclosed end 312 being an upper region of the hinge housing, athird rotator 333 coupled to thefirst support member 261 of thefirst housing 210 near the secondclosed end 313 being a lower region of thehinge housing 310, and afourth rotator 334 coupled to thesecond support member 262 of thesecond housing 220 near the secondclosed end 313 being a lower region of thehinge housing 310. According to an embodiment, the at least onerotator first support member 261 and thesecond support member 262 through a fastening member such as a screw. According to an embodiment, thehinge housing 310 may be connected to thefirst housing 210 and thesecond housing 220 through at least onehinge module 320. According to an embodiment, to accommodate thedisplay 230, the at least onehinge module 320 including at least onerotator first support member 261 and thesecond support member 262 so as to have a substantially flat surface. - According to various embodiments, the at least one
hinge module 320 may be connected to thefirst housing 210 and thesecond housing 220 through the at least onerotator hinge housing 310 during folding and/or unfolding, the at least onerotator FIG. 6A ) in a direction substantially parallel to the folding axis. However, when theelectronic device 200 is dropped and one housing is impacted, this flow gap may act as a cause of shearing stress by which the other housing is moved in the opposite direction and the two housings may be misaligned or twisted along the folding axis as much as the flow gap, which may cause damage to the display 230 (e.g., wire disconnection). Theelectronic device 200 according to exemplary embodiments of the disclosure may include a breakage prevention structure for eliminating such a flow gap when in a folded state. Theelectronic device 200 according to exemplary embodiments of the disclosure may include a breakage prevention structure for eliminating such a flow gap when in an unfolded state. -
FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing arrangement of the hinge device in the electronic device according to various embodiments of the disclosure. - In the description of the
electronic device 200 ofFIG. 5 , the same reference symbols are assigned to components substantially the same as those of theelectronic device 200 ofFIGS. 4A and4B , and a detailed description thereof may be omitted. -
FIG. 5 illustrates the arrangement relationship between thehinge device 300, thefirst housing 210, and thesecond housing 220 when the electronic device is in an unfolded state. According to an embodiment, theelectronic device 200 may include afirst housing 210, asecond housing 220, and ahinge device 300 that connects thefirst housing 210 and thesecond housing 220 to be foldable with respect to each other. According to an embodiment, thehinge device 300 may have a length in a direction substantially parallel to the folding axis A1 (e.g., y-axis direction), may be fixed to thehinge housing 310 including anaccommodation portion 3101 and theaccommodation portion 3101 of thehinge housing 310, and may include at least onehinge module 320 includingrotators first housing 210 and thesecond housing 220. According to an embodiment, therotators first rotator 331 and asecond rotator 332, disposed near the firstclosed end 312 in theaccommodation portion 3101 of thehinge housing 310, and coupled respectively to thefirst housing 210 and thesecond housing 220. According to an embodiment, therotators third rotator 333 and afourth rotator 334, disposed near the secondclosed end 313 in theaccommodation portion 3101 of thehinge housing 310, and coupled respectively to thefirst housing 210 and thesecond housing 220. -
FIG. 6A is an enlarged view of a portion indicated by indicia 6a inFIG. 5 according to various embodiments of the disclosure.FIG. 6B is a partial cross-sectional perspective view of a hinge housing and a rotator viewed alongline 6b-6b inFIG. 6A according to various embodiments of the disclosure. - With reference to
FIGS. 6A and6B , when thefirst housing 210 and thesecond housing 220 are being folded and/or unfolded with respect to each other, thefirst rotator 331 and thesecond rotator 332 may be disposed to have flow gaps g1 and g2 spaced apart from the firstclosed end 312 by a specified distance in a direction parallel to the folding axis A1 in theaccommodation portion 3101 of thehinge housing 310. According to an embodiment, the flow gaps g1 and g2 may be provided to minimize interference caused when thefirst rotator 331 and thesecond rotator 332 come into contact with thehinge housing 310 while thefirst housing 210 and thesecond housing 220 are being folded and unfolded or in the unfolded state. These flow gaps g1 and g2 may be maintained until thefirst rotator 331 and thesecond rotator 332 are changed from the unfolded state to just before the folded state (e.g., until a folding angle of about 5 ° before the completely folded state). Although not shown, the third andfourth rotators closed end 313. - According to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure, the
first rotator 331 may include aprotrusion 3311 formed to be extended in the direction of the firstclosed end 312. According to an embodiment, theprotrusion 3311 may include a mountingsurface 331a facing the display (e.g.,display 230 inFIG. 4A ), and aside surface 331b extended from the mountingsurface 331a and facing the firstclosed end 312. According to an embodiment, thefirst rotator 331 may include a firstinclined portion 3312 formed to be inclined at a specified angle θ on theside surface 331b of theprotrusion 3311. According to an embodiment, the firstclosed end 312 may include a secondinclined surface 3122 that is formed at a corresponding position so as to come into contact with the firstinclined surface 3312 when theelectronic device 200 is in the folded state. According to an embodiment, the secondinclined surface 3122 may be formed at a position not in contact with the firstinclined surface 3312 even when thefirst rotator 331 is moved in a range from an unfolded state to just before a folded state. In a certain embodiment, the firstinclined surface 3312 included in theprotrusion 3311 may be formed in a shape that does not come into contact with the secondinclined surface 3312 even when thefirst rotator 331 is moved in a range from an unfolded state to just before a folded state. According to an embodiment, the secondinclined surface 3312 may be formed at a position in surface contact with the firstinclined surface 3312 when theelectronic device 200 reaches the folded state. Hence, the firstinclined portion 3312 may be formed to be gradually lowered as it goes in the negative z-axis direction in the unfolded state. According to an embodiment, the secondinclined portion 3122 may be formed to be gradually heightened as it goes in the x-axis direction. - Although not shown, the
second rotator 332 and the firstclosed end 312, thethird rotator 333 and the secondclosed end 313, and/or thefourth rotator 334 and the secondclosed end 313 may also be formed to have a contact structure substantially the same as that of the firstinclined portion 3312 formed at thefirst rotator 331 and the secondinclined portion 3122 formed at the firstclosed end 312. -
FIG. 7A is a partial configuration view showing arrangement of the hinge housing and the rotator in the folded state according to various embodiments of the disclosure.FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a coupling structure between the hinge housing and the rotator viewed alongline 7b-7b inFIG. 7A according to various embodiments of the disclosure. -
FIG. 7A is a partial cross-sectional view of the electronic device viewed alongline 7a-7a inFIG. 4B . - With reference to
FIGS. 7A and7B , when theelectronic device 200 is in the folded state, the firstinclined portion 3312 of thefirst rotator 331 may come into contact with the secondinclined portion 3122 of the firstclosed end 312. According to an embodiment, the firstinclined portion 3312 and the secondinclined portion 3122 may contact each other at least partially in the form of a surface contact. Although not shown, thesecond rotator 332 and the firstclosed end 312, thethird rotator 333 and the secondclosed end 313, and/or thefourth rotator 334 and the secondclosed end 313 may come at least partially into surface contact with each other in substantially the same manner as the firstinclined portion 3312 and the secondinclined portion 3122 formed respectively at thefirst rotator 331 and the firstclosed end 312. In this case, in the folded state, for therotators hinge housing 310, at least a portion of the flow gaps g1 and g2 provided in a direction parallel to the folding axis A1 is filled with the contact structure between the firstinclined portion 3312 and the secondinclined portion 3122, so that even when an external impact such as a fall is applied, a phenomenon in which the twohousings inclined portion 3312 and the secondinclined portion 3122 do not contact each other in a range from the unfolded state to just before the folded state (e.g., until a folding angle of about 5 ° before the completely folded state), and the flow gaps g1 and g2 are provided between therotators hinge housing 310, thereby facilitating smooth folding and unfolding of theelectronic device 210. -
FIG. 7C is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a coupling structure between the hinge housing and the rotator according to various embodiments of the disclosure. - With reference to
FIG. 7C , when theelectronic device 200 is being transitioned to the folded state, noise or unwanted frictional force may be generated by a pressing force of the at least onehinge module 320 in the firstinclined portion 3312 of thefirst rotator 331 and the secondinclined portion 3122 of the firstclosed end 312. According to exemplary embodiments of the disclosure, theelectronic device 200 may include abuffer layer 3123 disposed between the firstinclined portion 3312 and the secondinclined portion 3122. According to an embodiment, thebuffer layer 3123 may be formed on the firstinclined portion 3312 and/or the secondinclined portion 3122. According to an embodiment, thebuffer layer 3123 may include an elastic coating layer or a Teflon coating layer based on an elastic material (e.g., urethane, rubber, resin, or silicone) disposed on the firstinclined portion 3312 and/or the secondinclined portion 3122. Although not shown, thebuffer layer 3123 may also be applied in a substantially same manner to thesecond rotator 332 and the firstclosed end 312, thethird rotator 333 and the secondclosed end 313, and/or thefourth rotator 334 and the secondclosed end 313. -
FIG. 8 is a view showing an operational trajectory of the rotator with respect to the hinge housing during a transition from the unfolded state to the folded state according to various embodiments of the disclosure. - With reference to
FIG. 8 , while theelectronic device 200 is transitioned from the folded state to the unfolded state, thefirst rotator 331 may be moved, relative to the hinge housing, from position (a) being in the unfolded state, along a trajectory of (b), (c) and (d), and finally to position (e) being in the folded state. In this case, thefirst rotator 331 may be not in contact with thehinge housing 310 in a direction substantially parallel to the folding axis A1 (e.g., in y-axis direction) during states (a) to (d). For example, theprotrusion 3311 and the firstinclined portion 3312 of thefirst rotator 331 may not come into contact with the firstclosed end 312 of thehinge housing 310 during states (a) to (d). According to an embodiment, when theelectronic device 200 reaches the folded state (e.g., state (e)), the firstinclined portion 3312 of thefirst rotator 331 may come into contact with the secondinclined portion 3122 of thehinge housing 310. As a result, when theelectronic device 200 is placed in the folded state for carrying (relatively high possibility of a fall), the flow gap (e.g., flow gaps g1 and g2 inFIG. 6A ) formed between thehinge housing 310 and thefirst rotator 331 in a direction of the folding axis A1 is filled with the surface contact between the firstinclined portion 3312 and the secondinclined portion 3122, so that a phenomenon of distortion or misalignment of the twohousings second rotator 332 and the firstclosed end 312, thethird rotator 333 and the secondclosed end 313, and/or thefourth rotator 334 and the secondclosed end 313 may also have substantially the same contact structure. -
FIG. 9A andFIG. 9B are schematic views illustrating the arrangement structure of the hinge housing and the rotator, respectively, in the unfolded state and the folded state of the electronic device according to various embodiments of the disclosure. - With reference to
FIGS. 9A and9B , theelectronic device 200 may include afirst housing 210, asecond housing 220, and ahinge device 300 that connects thefirst housing 210 and thesecond housing 220 to be foldable with respect to each other. According to an embodiment, thehinge device 300 may include ahinge housing 310 having a length in a direction substantially parallel to the folding axis A1, and ahinge module 320 fixed to thehinge housing 310 and includingrotators first housing 210 and thesecond housing 220. According to an embodiment, therotators first rotator 331 and asecond rotator 332 disposed near the firstclosed end 312 formed in an upper region UA of thehinge housing 310 and coupled respectively to thefirst housing 210 and thesecond housing 220, and may include athird rotator 333 and afourth rotator 334 disposed near the secondclosed end 313 formed in a lower region LA and coupled respectively to thefirst housing 210 and thesecond housing 220. According to an embodiment, thefirst rotator 331 and thethird rotator 333 may be coupled to thefirst support member 261 included in thefirst housing 210, and thesecond rotator 332 and thefourth rotator 334 may be coupled to thesecond support member 262 included in thesecond housing 220. - According to various embodiments, for the
first rotator 331, from the unfolded state to just before the folded state of theelectronic device 200, in the upper region UA, the firstinclined portion 3312 may not come into contact in a direction parallel to the folding axis A1 with the secondinclined portion 3122 formed at the firstclosed end 312 of thehinge housing 310. Similarly, in the upper region UA, thesecond rotator 332 may also not come into contact with the firstclosed end 312 of thehinge housing 310. Likewise, in the lower region LA, thethird rotator 333 may also not come into contact with the secondclosed end 313 of thehinge housing 310. Similarly, in the lower region UA, thefourth rotator 334 may also not come into contact with the secondclosed end 313 of thehinge housing 310. - According to various embodiments, for the
first rotator 331, when theelectronic device 200 reaches the folded state, the firstinclined portion 3312 may come into contact with, in a first upper region UA1, the secondinclined portion 3122 formed at the firstclosed end 312 of thehinge housing 310. Similarly, thesecond rotator 332 may come into contact with, in a second upper region UA2, at least a portion of the firstclosed end 312 in substantially the same manner. Similarly, thethird rotator 333 may come into contact with, in a first lower region LA1, at least a portion of the secondclosed end 313 in substantially the same manner. Similarly, thefourth rotator 334 may come into contact with, in a second lower region LA2, at least a portion of the secondclosed end 313 in substantially the same manner. As a result, when theelectronic device 200 is transitioned to the folded state, the flow gaps (e.g., flow gaps g1 and g2 inFIG. 6A ) formed in the direction of the folding axis A1 between thehinge housing 310 and therotators portion 3312 and second inclined portion 3122), so that a phenomenon in which the twohousings -
FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of a portion indicated byindicia 10 inFIG. 5 according to various embodiments of the disclosure. - The
electronic device 200 according to exemplary embodiments of the disclosure may include an additional breakage prevention structure for reducing the possibility of misalignment or distortion of the twohousings - With reference to
FIG. 10 , thefirst rotator 331 may include afirst coupling protrusion 3315 that is formed, in the unfolded state of theelectronic device 200, to protrude in the direction of the second rotator 332 (e.g., negative x-axis direction) and to be fitted to afirst accommodation groove 3325 formed in thesecond rotator 332. According to an embodiment, thesecond rotator 332 may include asecond coupling protrusion 3326 that is formed, in the unfolded state of theelectronic device 200, to protrude in the direction of the first rotator 331 (e.g., x-axis direction) and to be fitted to asecond accommodation groove 3316 formed in thefirst rotator 331. According to an embodiment, the first andsecond coupling protrusions second accommodation grooves electronic device 200 is in the unfolded state, and may be separated so as not to interfere with each other during a transition from the unfolded state to the folded state. Therefore, when theelectronic device 200 is in the unfolded state, thefirst coupling protrusion 3315 is coupled to thefirst accommodation groove 3325 and thesecond coupling protrusion 3326 is coupled to thesecond accommodation groove 3316, so that a phenomenon in which the twohousings -
FIG. 11 is a partial perspective view of the electronic device including a breakage prevention structure disposed between the hinge housing and the two housings at a portion indicated byindicia 11 inFIG. 4B according to various embodiments of the disclosure. - With reference to
FIG. 11 , theelectronic device 200 may include an additional prevention structure for filling a flow gap g3 formed between thehinge housing 310, thefirst housing 210 and thesecond housing 220 in the folded state. According to an embodiment, theelectronic device 200 may include afirst contact protrusion 315 disposed to fill the flow gap g3 between thefirst housing 210 and thehinge housing 310 in the folded state. According to an embodiment, thefirst contact protrusion 315 may be formed at a corresponding position of thefirst housing 210 or at a corresponding position on the outer surface of thehinge housing 310. In a certain embodiment, thefirst contact protrusion 315 may be replaced with the surface contact structure between the first inclined portion (e.g., first inclinedportion 3312 inFIG. 6A ) and the second inclined portion (e.g., secondinclined portion 3122 inFIG. 6A ) described above. According to an embodiment, theelectronic device 200 may include asecond contact protrusion 315 having substantially the same structure as thefirst contact protrusion 315 to fill the flow gap g3 between thesecond housing 220 and thehinge housing 310. According to an embodiment, thefirst housing 210 and thesecond housing 220 may be spaced apart from thehinge housing 310 through the flow gap g3 in a range from the unfolded state to just before the folded state, and may come into contact with thehinge housing 310 in a direction substantially parallel to the folding axis A1, in the folded state, as the flow gap is filled through thefirst contact protrusion 315 and thesecond contact protrusion 316. Although not shown, in a lower region of theelectronic device 200, substantially the same contact protrusions may be disposed between thehinge housing 310 and thefirst housing 210 and between thehinge housing 310 and thesecond housing 220. Accordingly, in the unfolded state of theelectronic device 200 according to exemplary embodiments of the disclosure, a phenomenon in which the twohousings - According to various embodiments, an electronic device (e.g.,
electronic device 200 inFIG. 5 ) may include: a first housing (e.g.,first housing 210 inFIG. 5 ); a second housing (e.g.,second housing 220 inFIG. 5 ); a hinge device (e.g.,hinge device 300 inFIG. 5 ) that connects the first housing and the second housing in a movable manner relative to each other with respect to a folding axis (e.g., folding axis A1 inFIG. 5 ), and includes a hinge housing (e.g., hingehousing 310 inFIG. 5 ) having an accommodation portion (e.g., accommodatingportion 3101 inFIG. 5 ), and a hinge module (e.g.,hinge module 320 inFIG. 5 ) disposed in the accommodation portion and including at least one rotator (e.g.,first rotator 331 inFIG. 5 ) connecting the first housing and the second housing; and a flexible display (e.g.,flexible display 230 inFIG. 4A ) disposed to be supported by at least some of the first housing, the second housing, and the hinge device, wherein the at least one rotator may be disposed to allow at least some thereof to be at least partially in contact with the hinge housing in a folded state, and to be spaced apart from the hinge housing by a specified distance in an unfolded state. - According to various embodiments, in the folded state, the at least one rotator and the hinge housing may be at least partially in contact with each other along a direction parallel to the folding axis.
- According to various embodiments, the hinge housing may include a cover part formed to have a length along the folding axis, a first closed end extended from one end of the cover part, and a second closed end extended from the other end of the cover part; the accommodation portion may be formed through the cover part, the first closed end, and the second closed end.
- According to various embodiments, the at least one rotator may include a protrusion including a first inclined portion; for the at least one rotator, in the folded state, the first inclined portion may be in at least partial surface contact with a second inclined portion formed at the first closed end and/or the second closed end.
- According to various embodiments, the first inclined portion may be formed to be gradually heightened in a direction perpendicular to the folding axis direction in the unfolded state; the second inclined portion may be formed in a shape corresponding to the first inclined portion so as to be in contact with the first inclined portion in the folded state.
- According to various embodiments, the hinge module may include a first hinge module that is fixed near the first closed end in the accommodation portion, and a second hinge module that is spaced apart from the first closed end by a specified distance in the accommodation portion and fixed near the second closed end.
- According to various embodiments, the at least one rotator may include a first rotator included in the first hinge module and coupled to the first housing, a second rotator included in the first hinge module and coupled to the second housing, a third rotator included in the second hinge module and coupled to the first housing, and a fourth rotator included in the second hinge module and coupled to the second housing.
- According to various embodiments, the protrusion including the first inclined portion may be formed on at least one rotator among the first rotator, the second rotator, the third rotator, and the fourth rotator; the second inclined portion may be formed at a position corresponding to the first inclined portion of the first closed end and/or the second closed end.
- According to various embodiments, the first housing may include a first lateral member at least partially constituting an external appearance of the electronic device, and a first support member coupled to the first lateral member; the first rotator and the third rotator may be coupled to the first support member.
- According to various embodiments, the first rotator and the third rotator may be coupled to the first support member so as to form substantially the same plane.
- According to various embodiments, the second housing may include a second lateral member at least partially constituting the external appearance of the electronic device, and a second support member coupled to the second lateral member; the second rotator and the fourth rotator may be coupled to the second support member.
- According to various embodiments, the second rotator and the fourth rotator may be coupled to the second support member so as to form substantially the same plane.
- According to various embodiments, the flexible display may be disposed to cross the hinge device and be supported by the first support member and the second support member.
- According to various embodiments, the hinge housing and/or the at least one rotator may be made of a metallic material.
- According to various embodiments, in the folded state, the cover part may be hidden to be invisible from the outside through the first housing and the second housing.
- According to various embodiments, an electronic device may include: a first housing that includes a first surface, a second surface facing in a direction opposite to the first surface, and a first lateral member surrounding a first space between the first surface and the second surface; a second housing that is foldably connected to the first housing through a hinge device, and includes a third surface facing in the same direction as the first surface in an unfolded state, a fourth surface facing in a direction opposite to the third surface, and a second lateral member surrounding a second space between the third surface and the fourth surface; and a flexible display disposed to be bendable from at least a portion of the first surface across the hinge device to at least a portion of the second surface, wherein the hinge device may include a hinge housing having an accommodation portion, and at least one hinge module disposed in the accommodation portion and including at least one rotator connected to the first housing and the second housing, wherein the at least one rotator may be disposed to allow at least some thereof to be at least partially in contact with the hinge housing in a folded state, and to be spaced apart from the hinge housing by a specified distance in the unfolded state.
- According to various embodiments, in the folded state, the at least one rotator and the hinge housing may be at least partially in contact with each other along a direction parallel to the folding axis.
- According to various embodiments, the hinge housing may include a cover part formed to have a length along the folding axis, a first closed end extended from one end of the cover part, and a second closed end extended from the other end of the cover part; the accommodation portion may be formed through the cover part, the first closed end, and the second closed end.
- According to various embodiments, the at least one rotator may include a protrusion including a first inclined portion; for the at least one rotator, in the folded state, the first inclined portion may be in at least partial surface contact with a second inclined portion formed at the first closed end and/or the second closed end.
- According to various embodiments, the first inclined portion is formed to be gradually heightened in a direction perpendicular to the folding axis direction in the unfolded state; the second inclined portion may be formed in a shape corresponding to the first inclined portion so as to be in contact with the first inclined portion in the folded state.
- Further, the embodiments of the disclosure disclosed in this specification and drawings are only presented as specific examples to easily explain the technical content according to the embodiments of the disclosure and help understanding of the embodiments of the disclosure, and are not intended to limit the scope of the embodiments of the disclosure. Accordingly, the scope of various embodiments of the disclosure should be construed to include both those embodiments disclosed herein and all changes or modifications derived based on the technical spirit of the various embodiments of the disclosure.
Claims (15)
- An electronic device comprising:a first housing;a second housing;a hinge device connecting the first housing and the second housing in a movable manner relative to each other with respect to a folding axis, and including:a hinge housing having an accommodation portion; anda hinge module disposed in the accommodation portion and including at least one rotator connecting the first housing and the second housing; anda flexible display disposed to be supported by at least some of the first housing, the second housing, and the hinge device,wherein the at least one rotator is disposed to allow at least some thereof to be at least partially in contact with the hinge housing in a folded state, and to be spaced apart from the hinge housing by a specified distance in an unfolded state.
- The electronic device of claim 1, wherein in the folded state, the at least one rotator and the hinge housing are at least partially in contact with each other along a direction parallel to the folding axis.
- The electronic device of claim 1, wherein:the hinge housing includes a cover part formed to have a length along the folding axis, a first closed end extended from one end of the cover part, and a second closed end extended from the other end of the cover part; andthe accommodation portion is formed through the cover part, the first closed end, and the second closed end.
- The electronic device of claim 3, wherein:the at least one rotator includes a protrusion including a first inclined portion; andfor the at least one rotator, in the folded state, the first inclined portion is in at least partial surface contact with a second inclined portion formed at the first closed end and/or the second closed end.
- The electronic device of claim 4, wherein:the first inclined portion is formed to be gradually heightened in a direction perpendicular to the folding axis direction in the unfolded state; andthe second inclined portion is formed in a shape corresponding to the first inclined portion so as to be in contact with the first inclined portion in the folded state.
- The electronic device of claim 4, wherein the hinge module includes a first hinge module that is fixed near the first closed end in the accommodation portion, and a second hinge module that is spaced apart from the first closed end by a specified distance in the accommodation portion and is fixed near the second closed end.
- The electronic device of claim 6, wherein the at least one rotator includes:a first rotator included in the first hinge module and coupled to the first housing;a second rotator included in the first hinge module and coupled to the second housing;a third rotator included in the second hinge module and coupled to the first housing; anda fourth rotator included in the second hinge module and coupled to the second housing.
- The electronic device of claim 7, wherein:the protrusion including the first inclined portion is formed on at least one rotator among the first rotator, the second rotator, the third rotator, and the fourth rotator; andthe second inclined portion is formed at a position corresponding to the first inclined portion of the first closed end and/or the second closed end.
- The electronic device of claim 7, wherein:the first housing includes a first lateral member at least partially constituting an external appearance of the electronic device, and a first support member coupled to the first lateral member; andthe first rotator and the third rotator are coupled to the first support member.
- The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the first rotator and the third rotator are coupled to the first support member so as to form substantially same plane.
- The electronic device of claim 9, wherein:the second housing includes a second lateral member at least partially constituting the external appearance of the electronic device, and a second support member coupled to the second lateral member; andthe second rotator and the fourth rotator are coupled to the second support member.
- The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the second rotator and the fourth rotator are coupled to the second support member so as to form substantially same plane.
- The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the flexible display is disposed to cross the hinge device and be supported by the first support member and the second support member.
- The electronic device of claim 4, wherein the hinge housing and/or the at least one rotator are made of a metallic material.
- The electronic device of claim 3, wherein in the folded state, the cover part is hidden to be invisible from outside through the first housing and the second housing.
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KR1020210011067A KR20220107863A (en) | 2021-01-26 | 2021-01-26 | Electronic device including structure for preventing damage |
PCT/KR2021/019921 WO2022164049A1 (en) | 2021-01-26 | 2021-12-27 | Electronic device comprising breakage prevention structure |
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EP4261653A1 true EP4261653A1 (en) | 2023-10-18 |
EP4261653A4 EP4261653A4 (en) | 2024-05-15 |
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EP21923455.6A Pending EP4261653A4 (en) | 2021-01-26 | 2021-12-27 | Electronic device comprising breakage prevention structure |
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EP (1) | EP4261653A4 (en) |
JP (1) | JP2024504748A (en) |
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US10082839B1 (en) * | 2017-06-21 | 2018-09-25 | Dell Products L.P. | Flexible information handling system display hinge and ramp support structure |
KR102328398B1 (en) * | 2018-10-25 | 2021-11-18 | 엘지전자 주식회사 | Flexible display device |
KR102587589B1 (en) * | 2019-02-19 | 2023-10-12 | 삼성전자주식회사 | A hinge structure and an electronic device comprising the same |
KR20200127741A (en) * | 2019-05-03 | 2020-11-11 | 삼성전자주식회사 | Electronic device including display |
WO2020242036A1 (en) * | 2019-05-31 | 2020-12-03 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Foldable electronic device including display protection structure |
KR20200137902A (en) * | 2019-05-31 | 2020-12-09 | 삼성전자주식회사 | Foldable electronic device including display protection structure |
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2021
- 2021-01-26 KR KR1020210011067A patent/KR20220107863A/en active Search and Examination
- 2021-12-27 JP JP2023545729A patent/JP2024504748A/en active Pending
- 2021-12-27 EP EP21923455.6A patent/EP4261653A4/en active Pending
- 2021-12-27 CN CN202180091666.0A patent/CN116868145A/en active Pending
- 2021-12-27 WO PCT/KR2021/019921 patent/WO2022164049A1/en active Application Filing
- 2021-12-27 BR BR112023015024A patent/BR112023015024A2/en unknown
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US20230371191A1 (en) | 2023-11-16 |
JP2024504748A (en) | 2024-02-01 |
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EP4261653A4 (en) | 2024-05-15 |
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